It is sad that our education system has produced people who act in a selfish manner, as explained in this article. http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2012/02/selfish-reasons.html
This is the outcome of a competitive model. By stressing "excellence", we encourage our young to compete at an early age, and to develop a selfish character. We need to change our education system to reflect the necessary values in life. We have to follow the approach taken in Finland, where they emphasize "equity" more than "excellence" as explained in this article.
http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/koulutuspolitiikka/?lang=en
AFTER NOTE:
I want to be frank and to state the root of the problem. It is more than just the education system.
When I bought my 5 room flat in Marine Parade in 1975 for $36,000, it was affordable not only to me, but to most of my neighbours. We were able to pay for the flat with 25% of our earnings over 15 years.
Today, many people are paying sky high prices - stretching to 35% of the combined income for 30 years. When people pay so much for the flat, it is understanding that they are fussy and selfish.
The underlying cause is the high price that have to be paid for the HDB flats. I do not wish to condone selfish behavior but I wish to say a few words of understanding.
Let us address the root cause that ails our society.
It is amazing that if I wanted to point ALL that ill Singapore, be it poor attitude / increase inflation / poor job prospects / high cost of living / poor fertility rate / over-crowding... I will be 70% correct, if I cite the MBT's model of pricing our "Public Housing".
ReplyDeleteEven the HDB Hawker Centre stalls and Shop houses are not spared. All in the name of Asset Enhancement and market rate.
it is normal for people to complain and compare about the present situation when some of them could not catch-up with the progress. eg. when the public housing is cheap ,none of them made noise after selling it out for a profit ; yet some do not invest the money for other private property. hence, their standard of living continue to remain what there had in the past.during our time, we do not have stuckbuck, i-phone , sushi . of course, these things cost much more. if we are not too fussy, we can still eat at hawker center and some cheap joints ( check with u freiends or taxi-drivers.) the changes of the housing policy also affected most of us as the young one who are better educated and more demanding ; this has created the situation where only money can solve the problems or needs . we cant change the world or society , but we can change ourself to adapt the changes. i think , the problem of today , is that the family tree became smaller and smaller; every family wants to look after and improve their own standard of living ; as a result, the income per household cant cope the hight cost of living ; i believe most of all the newly-wedded couples has a well renovated hdb and problbly a car. i had stayed in hdb for the past 30 over years and my house had not done much renovation as i need to use part of the income to service my loan for the hdb and a used car ( work-related). it is not easy to bring up two kids as my wife is not working. so , u see , everyone of us has different family problems and so many other needs ; the people of other countries have more problems too. i can only wish and hope that the world and our home become a better and a safer place to live in. our government can only do that much but not everything in a short times; there are many issues which affects not one ; eg. education, birth rate , housing and the different expection of person or people etc. i contribute this to past my time and share my expierence and observation with un all; no other meaning or comments . thamks and wish u well.
ReplyDelete